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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, October 8, 2009

Bill banning sidewalk sleeping shelved by Honolulu City Council committee

Advertiser Staff

A bill banning sleeping on city sidewalks was shelved indefinitely by the City Council Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee this morning.

Six council members raised objections to Bill 69, questioning how it would affect the homeless.

The bill was introduced by Executive Matters Chairman Charles Djou, who said there have been a growing number of people sleeping on Waikiki sidewalks since the city began shutting down Kuhio Beach and Kapiolani Park.

In an attempt to gain more votes, Djou, who introduced the bill, sought to amend it to restrict the time and area of the prohibition.

Djou’s colleagues, however, weren’t swayed.

Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi said she could not support a bill that was tantamount to “criminalizing those without homes ... people who really have nowhere to go.”